C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Lost cam

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 11, 2019 | 03:54 PM
  #1  
1tazz's Avatar
1tazz
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 41
Likes: 14
From: NC
Default Lost cam

I lost my cam at start up it is a very mild 383 with a L82 cam so now do I try flush engine in car or do I remove the motor for a complete tear down. I hope I can flush it in the car. All my work for the last month down the drain.
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2019 | 04:07 PM
  #2  
cv67's Avatar
cv67
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Default

Unless the cam bearings are coppered bad/oil pressure low change the cam. Guess you can flush it?
take the manifold off , drain plug out and dump some diesel in there. Turning the oil pump may/may not help

Not saying its the milliionaire solution but done changed bad ones plenty of times w/no flushing it ran for years.
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2019 | 04:24 PM
  #3  
1tazz's Avatar
1tazz
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 41
Likes: 14
From: NC
Default

Motor only ran around 40 min and had 40psi a idle and around 60psi at 2500 rpm
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2019 | 04:53 PM
  #4  
stingr69's Avatar
stingr69
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 1,502
From: Little Rock AR
Default

Sorry to hear about the cam. I would make sure to use an oil filter mount that has the bypass valve blocked and an oil filter without a bypass at least for the first and second oil change. Easy and cheap protection. If you really want to keep the oil filter bypass function, you can easily swap it out for a stock oil filter mount later. Just 2 bolts.

Reply
Old Oct 11, 2019 | 05:20 PM
  #5  
Jebbysan's Avatar
Jebbysan
Dr. Detroit
Supporting Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
Default

This has come up quite a few times over the years but I have put new cams in after wiping a lobe and just drained the oil and changed the filter.
Now if it concerns you.....pull the pan and check rod/main bearings......
But the metal will HAVE to get sucked up through the oil pump and get pushed through the oiling system for it to do damage. It is possible but in experience not likely.
If you do pull the pan.....pull the oil pump and disassemble it first.....if it has BAD scoring on the gears then check your bearings......
After you put it back together.....stick a Rare Earth magnet on the bottom of the pan.....this will pull small metal particles toward it in the future...anything residual.

Jebby

Last edited by Jebbysan; Oct 12, 2019 at 12:14 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2019 | 05:50 PM
  #6  
cv67's Avatar
cv67
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Default

Is this a new engine and a used L82 cam?
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2019 | 06:29 PM
  #7  
1tazz's Avatar
1tazz
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 41
Likes: 14
From: NC
Default

No this is a new engine with a L82 spec cam
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2019 | 06:34 PM
  #8  
jackson's Avatar
jackson
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Default

Originally Posted by 1tazz
No this is a new engine with a L82 spec cam
roughly ... how far from town of Tryon NC
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 11, 2019 | 06:39 PM
  #9  
1tazz's Avatar
1tazz
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 41
Likes: 14
From: NC
Default

Gastonia nc
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2019 | 07:54 PM
  #10  
jackson's Avatar
jackson
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Default

We're probably about 70-75 mi distant, as I'm visiting just west of Spartanburg

if in a jam, perhaps I could take a look
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2019 | 08:57 PM
  #11  
1tazz's Avatar
1tazz
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 41
Likes: 14
From: NC
Default

You know you are in trouble when you see a lifter seating this low in the bore.

Reply
Old Oct 11, 2019 | 09:35 PM
  #12  
jackson's Avatar
jackson
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Default

Originally Posted by 1tazz
You know you are in trouble when you see a lifter seating this low in the bore.
sorry, so true
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2019 | 10:35 PM
  #13  
boat196's Avatar
boat196
Burning Brakes
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 897
Likes: 245
From: Green Valley Ca
Default

What valve springs did you use.
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2019 | 06:42 AM
  #14  
Rescue Rogers's Avatar
Rescue Rogers
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,209
Likes: 9,348
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Default

what break in oil did you use?
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2019 | 06:42 AM
  #15  
1tazz's Avatar
1tazz
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 41
Likes: 14
From: NC
Default

The springs are stock with 110 seat pressure that is what the cam called for. Half turn pre load. Been building motors for over 30 years and never seen a cam wipe out that fast ,cam company will not stand behind there product they all say you must have done something wrong , easy out for them .
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2019 | 10:45 AM
  #16  
1tazz's Avatar
1tazz
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 41
Likes: 14
From: NC
Default

Gibbs break in oil
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2019 | 10:47 AM
  #17  
cv67's Avatar
cv67
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Default

What brand were the cam/lifters? Hard to get anything with quality in FT stuff these days. Usually the lazy ramp stuff has the best chance for survival
Did you take the inner spring/dampner off when you broke them in?
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Lost cam

Old Oct 12, 2019 | 10:48 AM
  #18  
1tazz's Avatar
1tazz
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 41
Likes: 14
From: NC
Default

Getting back to to the question about how to flush your motor out after a cam failure any thoughts on that
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2019 | 10:51 AM
  #19  
1tazz's Avatar
1tazz
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 41
Likes: 14
From: NC
Default

I only have one spring with a dampener
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2019 | 10:56 AM
  #20  
1tazz's Avatar
1tazz
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 41
Likes: 14
From: NC
Default

I don’t want to bash the cam manufacturer just yet going to give them a chance to make it right if you know what I mean but after talking to there rep it is not looking good for me
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:06 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE